Arts & Entertainment

Opening of The Broad museum in downtown Los Angeles delayed; details of public plaza released

Rendering of a nighttime program at a plaza planned for The Broad museum in downtown Los Angeles.
Courtesy The Broad
Rendering of a "bosque" at a plaza planned for The Broad museum in downtown Los Angeles.
Courtesy The Broad
Rendering of a restaurant at a plaza planned for The Broad museum in downtown Los Angeles.
Courtesy The Broad
Rendering of a plaza planned for The Broad museum in downtown Los Angeles. The view is from across Grand Avenue.
Courtesy The Broad
An aerial view of the plaza and the area around The Broad museum, which is under construction in downtown Los Angeles.
Courtesy The Broad

The arrival of The Broad museum of contemporary art in downtown Los Angeles is being delayed. Construction is behind schedule, so the opening is being pushed back to sometime in 2015. It was originally expected to open in late 2014.

Karen Denne, spokeswoman for The Broad Foundation, says one reason for the delay stems from the signature exterior of the building. Many people describe it as honeycomb shaped. She calls it the "veil."

"There have been some complications with the fabrication and delivery of the veil, which is a key component of the design," Denne said. "The veil is an intricate structure that wraps around the building. There are 2,500 pieces of glass fiber reinforced concrete and steel-cladding that are involved."

A new plaza alongside the museum is set to open in fall 2014. It will include a new restaurant and a wide lawn lined with 100-year old olive trees from Northern California.

"This is a 24,000 square foot public plaza that will really be a space for outdoor entertainment, for recreational activities and for the public programming the Broad offers," Denne said. "There's a large central lawn along the plaza. And it's really designed to be a green oasis in downtown Los Angeles."

The Broad museum will feature the vast collection of contemporary art owned by Los Angeles billionaire Eli Broad and his wife Edythe. Officials said the new museum will be free to the public.

The foundation released a promotional video announcing the changes. You can watch it below: